Moving-body movement automation device and storage medium storing movement automation program

Abstract

A mobile automation device for a moving body that controls the moving body so that the moving body moves autonomously, the device comprising: an input unit that acquires information on the moving body or a surrounding environment of the moving body; a prediction unit that generates first predicted motion data related to a future moving mode of the moving body based on the information acquired via the input unit; a communication control unit that performs processing related to communication with an additional mobile automation device mounted on an additional moving body other than the moving body and receives second predicted motion data related to a future moving mode of the additional moving body via the input unit from the additional mobile automation device; and a priority determination unit that determines a motion priority order of the moving body and the additional moving body based on the first predicted motion data and the second predicted motion data, thereby controlling a motion of more than one moving body based on a determination result of the priority determination unit.

1 . A mobile automation device for a moving body that controls the moving body so that the moving body moves autonomously, the device comprising:
 an input unit configured to acquire information on the moving body or a surrounding environment of the moving body;   a prediction unit configured to generate first predicted motion data related to a future moving mode of the moving body based on the information acquired via the input unit;   a communication control unit configured to perform processing related to communication with an additional mobile automation device mounted on an additional moving body other than the moving body and receive second predicted motion data related to a future moving mode of the additional moving body via the input unit from the additional mobile automation device; and   a priority determination unit configured to determine a motion priority order of the moving body and the additional moving body based on the first predicted motion data and the second predicted motion data,   wherein a motion of the moving body or the additional moving body is controlled based on a determination result of the priority determination unit.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile automation device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a drive control unit configured to control a drive system of the moving body based on the determination result of the priority determination unit.   
     
     
         3 . The mobile automation device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an output unit configured to transmit the first predicted motion data or the determination result regarding the motion priority order,   wherein the processing related to communication with the additional mobile automation device performed by the communication control unit comprises transmitting the first predicted motion data or the determination result regarding the motion priority order by the output unit.   
     
     
         4 . The mobile automation device according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the output unit is further capable of transmitting a motion result of the motion of the moving body controlled based on the determination result regarding the motion priority order, and   the processing related to communication with the additional mobile automation device performed by the communication control unit further comprises transmitting and receiving the motion result.   
     
     
         5 . The mobile automation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the input unit comprises:
 a detection unit configured to acquire information on the motion of the moving body or the surrounding environment of the moving body;   a wireless receiving unit configured to acquire the information on the surrounding environment of the moving body by receiving a wireless signal containing the information on the surrounding environment of the moving body generated by a wireless communication device outside the moving body; and   a manual operation unit configured to acquire information on a motion schedule of the moving body based on an operation input by a user,   wherein the first predicted motion data is data generated by the prediction unit based on the information acquired via the detection unit, the wireless receiving unit, and the manual operation unit.   
     
     
         6 . The mobile automation device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display unit for displaying the information acquired by the input unit, the first or second predicted motion data, or the determination result regarding the motion priority order acquired by the priority determination unit.   
     
     
         7 . A storage medium having a mobile automation program for a moving body stored therein, the mobile automation program enabling a computer to function as a mobile automation device for the moving body that controls the moving body so that the moving body moves autonomously,
 wherein the mobile automation program stored in the storage medium enables the computer to function as:   an input unit configured to acquire information on the moving body or a surrounding environment of the moving body;   a prediction unit configured to generate first predicted motion data related to a future moving mode of the moving body based on the information acquired via the input unit;   a communication control unit configured to perform processing related to communication with an additional mobile automation device mounted on an additional moving body other than the moving body and receive second predicted motion data related to a future moving mode of the additional moving body via the input unit from the additional mobile automation device; and   a priority determination unit configured to determinate a motion priority order of the moving body and the additional moving body based on the first predicted motion data and the second predicted motion data,   wherein a motion of the moving body or the additional moving body is controlled based on a determination result of the priority determination unit.   
     
     
         8 . The storage medium according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the program further enables the computer to function as a drive control unit configured to control a drive system of the moving body based on the determination result of the priority determination unit.   
     
     
         9 . The storage medium according to  claim 7 , wherein the program further enables the computer to function as an output unit configured to transmit the first predicted motion data or the determination result regarding the motion priority order, and
 the processing related to communication with the additional mobile automation device performed by the computer as the communication control unit comprises transmitting the first predicted motion data or the determination result regarding the motion priority order by the output unit.   
     
     
         10 . The storage medium according to  claim 9 , wherein the function as the output unit comprises transmitting a motion result of the motion of the moving body controlled based on the determination result regarding the motion priority order, and
 the processing related to communication with the additional mobile automation device performed by the communication control unit comprises transmitting and receiving the motion result.   
     
     
         11 . The storage medium according to  claim 7 , wherein the function as the input unit that the program enables the computer to realize comprises functions as:
 a detection unit configured to acquire information on the motion of the moving body or the surrounding environment of the moving body;   a wireless receiving unit configured to acquire the information on the surrounding environment of the moving body by receiving a wireless signal containing the information on the surrounding environment of the moving body generated by a wireless communication device outside the moving body; and   a manual operation unit configured to acquire information on a motion schedule of the moving body based on an operation input by a user,   wherein the first predicted motion data is data generated by the prediction unit based on the information acquired via the detection unit, the wireless receiving unit, and the manual operation unit.   
     
     
         12 . The storage medium according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the program further enables the computer to function as a display unit for displaying the information acquired by the input unit, the first or second predicted motion data, or the determination result regarding the motion priority order acquired by the priority determination unit.   
     
     
         13 . A safety assurance device, which cooperates with the mobile automation device according to  claim 1  to assure safety of a motion of a user, the safety assurance device comprising:
 an input unit configured to acquire information on the user carrying the safety assurance device or a surrounding environment of the user; 
 a prediction unit that generates second predicted motion data related to a future motion mode of the user based on the information acquired via the input unit; 
 a communication control unit configured to perform processing related to communication with the mobile automation device and receive first predicted motion data related to a future motion mode of a moving body on which the mobile automation device is mounted via the input unit from the mobile automation device; 
 a priority determination unit configured to determine a motion priority order of the user and the moving body based on the first predicted motion data and the second predicted motion data; and 
 an output unit configured to transmit the second predicted motion data or a determination result regarding the motion priority order, 
 wherein the processing related to communication with the mobile automation device performed by the communication control unit comprises transmitting the second predicted motion data or the determination result regarding the motion priority order by the output unit, and 
 wherein the mobile automation device is made to control the motion of the moving body based on the determination result of the priority determination unit of the safety assurance device. 
 
     
     
         14 . The safety assurance device according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a notification unit for notifying the user of the information acquired by the input unit, the first or second predicted motion data, or the determination result regarding the motion priority order acquired by the priority determination unit.   
     
     
         15 . The safety assurance device according to  claim 14 , wherein the input unit comprises:
 a detection unit configured to acquire information on the motion of the user carrying the safety assurance device or the surrounding environment of the user;   a wireless receiving unit configured to acquire the information on the surrounding environment of the user by receiving a wireless signal containing the information on the surrounding environment of the user generated by a wireless communication device outside the safety assurance device; and   a manual operation unit configured to acquire information on a motion schedule of the user based on an operation input by the user,   wherein the second predicted motion data is data generated by the prediction unit based on the information acquired via the detection unit, the wireless receiving unit, and the manual operation unit.   
     
     
         16 . The safety assurance device according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the detection unit is further capable of detecting a motion state of the user after the notification unit has notified the user of the determination result regarding the motion priority order,   the output unit is further capable of transmitting the motion state of the user detected by the detection unit, and   the processing related to communication with the mobile automation device performed by the communication control unit further comprises receiving a motion result of the moving body and transmitting the motion state of the user.